Giving up bragging for lent?

Heart For God (Photo credit: SweetCapture)

Lent season began yesterday. Last year I shared what I had newly learned about this season and my reflections at that time in my post Learning About Lent. I understand what lent should be, and what it can be.  But I still struggle with some things. I wonder if it is still meaningful when a person gives up the same thing year after year for lent. I wonder if we are missing the intention of the early church leaders when we think of lent in terms of giving up a bad habit. Why wait until lent if we already know it is bad? Or when we give up something good, what are our motives. I wonder if it is a good thing to tell everyone what we are doing to observe lent or if it is a better thing to treat lent observance in a similar fashion to the way we ought to treat prayer and fasting, not secretly, but not as the Pharisees either. Does telling everyone what we are doing for lent bless them in any way or does it just puff us up and make them feel like they have to do something equal or better? or feel like they are less pious because they aren't choosing to observe lent? Is lent about looking holy? or about being holy? Our family was talking together about all this and my youngest jokingly said "I'm giving up bragging for lent." What stunned me was that in our semi-isolation here, he had already observed that some folks do seem to use their lent observance as an opportunity to boast and put the focus on them instead of on Christ. Out of the mouths of babes.

There are several articles posted in my Learning About Lent post that address the positive elements of lent and the links are still there if you are interested. I found a new article this year whose author has a different and thought provoking perspective, Pastor Stephen Sammons' Why I don't Celebrate Lent. He clarifies up front that he does not have a problem with the origin of lent or the intended purpose of lent, but with what it has become in our day, and then he gives his reasons. It's a stimulating read and made me think about my own motives and desires.

Another pastor suggested that for lent we give up to God what He really wants - our broken and contrite hearts. I've included a link to his article below.

The bottom line is that lent observance is a personal decision. It is not commanded of God. It is not addressed in the Bible. But repentance is. Renewal is. Humility and submission are. Holiness is. Lent season is one avenue God might use in a believer's life to work out those issues in their heart, but it certainly is not the only one.

I would love to hear your thoughts.

Related articles

• A Sacrifice for Lent...a broken heart?

Beauty from Ashes at the Orphanage

Last Tuesday evening, I received a phone call.  Lauree was in Kinshasa for a short time to adopt a toddler and to do some volunteer work.  She and three other Christian ladies, all representing Our Family in Africa, were planning a visit to the orphanage in Kimbondo on the following morning. Did I want to accompany them?

So the following morning Daniel and I walked down to the commercial center in our neighborhood and found their interpreter waiting for us near the vehicle - a beat up taxi van.  There were two women in the back and two Congolese men in the front (the interpreter and the driver).  Quick introductions were made and then....I did something my mother taught me as a child to never do anywhere, much less in a third world country...I got into a van full of strangers and we headed off to Kimbondo.

We went on Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, and the orphanage is Catholic, so I didn't know if showing up unannounced on a holy day was a good idea or not.  My new friends had loaded down the back of the van and the back of another vehicle with gifts for the orphanage: clothing, medicine, food, baby formula, toys, and toiletries.  When we arrived I introduced them to Father Hugo and stood back to watch the magic.  Father Hugo's countenance changed with each bag and box that was unloaded from the vehicles and placed in front of the office.  He didn't have to say "thank you," because it was written all over his face, but he said it several times anyway.  He explained to us that it was the first day of Lent, the beginning of a season of sacrificial giving to God and spiritual reflection.  He did not believe it a coincidence that God had sent those supplies, so badly needed, on that particular day.  He was deeply touched.  Jules, the interpreter, summed it all up for all of us when he said he wanted to cry.

Father Hugo gave us a brief tour of the orphanage and the hospital.  The ladies had already visited a number of other orphanages in Kinshasa so I asked them how Kimbondo compared with those.  They said there is no comparison.  This orphanage, the largest they had seen thus far, was clean, for starters.  The kids were clean and well nourished.  They told me stories of the disheartening conditions they saw in the other orphanages.

After that, we got to play!  Some of that giant care package included balloons and bubbles, which we distributed to every kid we could find.  I'm not sure who had more fun, the kids or the adults.

Ashes symbolize mourning and grief.  In the case of Ash Wednesday, ashes are a tangible reminder of our own mortality and what is supposed to be happening within us: grief over our sins, leading to repentance and renewal.  Surrounded on Wednesday by all those beautiful smiles on the faces of the orphans, I was reminded of Isaiah 61:1-3,  

"The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.  He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion - to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor."

Pray for Father Hugo and his staff as they care for these kids, who are all too familiar with mourning, and proclaim the Good News to them.

I am so grateful to Lauree, Lynette, Darcy and Kim for allowing me to share their day with them.  In this hard place, it was a real balm to my soul and an encouragement to my spirit to see how their gifts touched Father Hugo and the children.  Thanks, ladies, for letting God use you to make a difference in Congo!

Learning About Lent

Lent (Photo credit: Fr. Stephen, MSC)

Growing up, all I knew about Lent I learned from my Catholic friends who gave up things like bubble gum or soda for several weeks. None of the Baptist churches of my childhood taught or practiced Lent. Here in Congo, we attend an international Protestant church with people from all over the world representing multiple denominations. One result of this is that I hear more about Lent.

Curious, I did a little reading up on it. Lent is not just about giving up something. Observing Lent is about drawing closer to Christ, spiritual discipline, and preparing for the Easter celebration of Christ’s resurrection in the same way that celebrating Advent prepares us for Christmas. It keeps our focus off the secularisms and commercial trappings and on our Lord. Lent is meant to bring about repentance and renewal. It’s about reflecting on and grieving over our sins – something we don’t hear about too much anymore. That one got me. Do I grieve over my sins? Elliot Ryan wrote: “Perhaps, after we examine our hearts and lives, we will be led to cry out to God as David did, ‘Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me’ (Psalm 51:9-10).” (My new verses for this week's 52 Challenge)

I know repentance is not an annual thing but something I should practice continuously. However, I think having a season of reflection and self-denial and spending that time and energy we would normally expend gratifying ourselves in prayer instead could be valuable and beneficial. I’ve decided to observe Lent this year and see what God will do.

What about you? Were you taught the observance of Lent while growing up? Or recently? Do you believe observing Lent is a good thing?

Sources and related articles:
Why You Should Celebrate Lent - Elliot Ryan's article
Journey to the Cross - excellent devotionals for the Lent season
What is Lent? - a good explanation of the origin and purpose of Lent